UEDICINES.] 



MODEii^' VETElilXAIiV i'liACTlCE. 



l,M£0I0IK£8. 



It forms a variety of salts called camphor- 

 atcs. 



Medicinal Uses. — Fi'brifiif,'^, internally ; 

 Btimuhuit, externally ; iu doses of ouo drachm to 

 two drachms, combined with nitro and tartarised 

 antimony. As an external aj)i)lication it is used 

 iu the euinpound soap liniment. Mixed with 

 opium, it is now used by jMr.W. Spooner iu cases 

 of locked-jaw. Tho doses are from one to two 

 drachms. Professor Morton considers it a 

 narcotic. Combined with oil of turpentine, it 

 is elfective iu relieving stilf joints after labour. 



CAXTHAnis — Blistering Fly. 



Cuntliaridcs, or blistering flies, in the Mate- 

 ria JIt'dica, are insects used to raise blisters, 

 and dill'er iu their size, shape, aud colour. 

 The largest are about an inch long. Some are 

 of a pure azure colour ; others of that of pure 

 gold ; aud others, again, have a mixture of gold 

 and azure colours, all brilliant aud extremely 

 beautiful. They are more common in hot 

 countries, though they are occasioually to be 

 met with iu all parts of Europe, at some 

 seasons of the year ; particularly among wheat 

 and on meadows, upon the leaves of the ash, 

 the poplar, the willow, &c. They abound in 

 Spain, Italy, and France, on several kinds of 

 trees. Those from Spain are obtained by 

 shaking the trees on which they are found, 

 and catching them in a cloth spread under- 

 neath. The}^ are then killed by the steam of 

 boiled vinegar, and dried by the sun or stove. 

 The active principle appears to reside in an 

 oil Avhich they contain. 



Medicinal Uses. — Vesicant, applied in the 

 formulce tmguentum caniJiaridis infusium, &c. 

 Eeceutly the application of this liy has come 

 into more general use. Combined with vege- 

 table bitters, it is recommended as a stimu- 

 lating tonic in cases of debility. It has also 

 been applied to the curing of glanders. The 

 dose is from five to eight grains, given daily ; 

 but when diuresis supervenes, it must not be 

 used for a day or two. 



Capsici Bacc-S — Capsicum Berries. 



Capsicum, or Guinea pepper, is the fruit of 

 a berry. There are five species, the principal 

 ot which are — 1. Capsicum annum, the common 

 long-podded capsicum, which is cultivated iu 

 our gardens. Of this there is one variety 



with red, and another with yellow fruit. 



2. Capsicum baccatum, bird pi-ppur, rising with 

 a shrubby stalk, four or fivo feet liiyli ; tho 

 fruit grows at tho division of tho branches, 

 standing erect ; these are small, oval, and of a 

 bright red, and form what is called Cayenne 

 pepper. — 3. Capsicum grossum, the bill pepper. 

 Tho fruit of this ia red, and is tho only kind 

 fit for pickling. 



Medicinal Uses. — Valuable as stimulants, 

 and highly to bo recommended iu cases of 

 cold. The dose is from a scruple to half a 

 drachm. 



Caeui Semina — Caraway Seeds. 



These alone, or in a state of combination 

 with ginger, are tho best stimulants used in 

 veterinary practice. 



Catechu Exteactum — Extract of Catecnu — 

 Catechu. 



Catechu is a brown astringent substance 

 formerly known by the name of Japan earth. 

 It is a dry extract, prepared from the wood of 

 a species of sensitive plant, the mimosa catechu. 

 It is imported from the East Indies. As a 

 medicine it has been recommended as a 

 powerful astringent, and a tincture of it is 

 used for this purpose; but its aqueous solu- 

 tion is less irritating. Made into troches, 

 with gum-arabic and sugar, it is an excellent; 

 preparation ; and in this way is said much to 

 assist the clearness of the voice, aud to be 

 remarkably serviceable in disorders of tho 

 throat. 



Medicinal Uses. — Astringent. Dose from 

 two drachms to four drachms, in combination 

 with creta preparata. For wounds it is an 

 excellent application, and with aloes quickens 

 their healing wonderfully. 



Ceeta Peepaeata — Prepared Chalk. 



Chalk is a white, dry, calcareous earth. 

 Where it is found at all, it is the prepon- 

 derating substance, and may, therefore, be 

 considered as characterising a peculiar species 

 of mineral formation. It occurs in strata for 

 the most part nearly horizontal, alternating 

 with thin layers of flint nodules, and with the 

 same irregularly dispersed through its sub- 

 stance. It contains iu abundance the relics 

 of marine organised bodies, such as echiuites, 



351 



